West Ham 1 City 0

CITY'S away day frustrations continued against West Ham at Upton Park where Jack Collison's second-half goal proved decisive. The Blues have only won once on their travels this season and although there were moments of promise, boss Mark Hughes was left disappointed again. To add to City's misery, Micah Richards and Craig Bellamy were both substituted off with apparent injuries.

FOR the second time this season City were given the chance to claim seventh place, and just like they did at Portsmouth they failed to take it.

Lacklustre in the first half but much more vibrant in the second when they bossed the contest for lengthy spells, the Blues were ultimately fell short in both the petrol and scoring departments.

Only after Welshman Jack Collison celebrated St David’s Day by firing the unimpressive Hammers into the lead did City look like worrying the home side’s back four on a sustained basis.

With Villa and Chelsea to come in the next week it is to be hoped Mark Hughes can re-energise his men for a final push. League points are still very much needed.

Saints day for City’s ‘Tafia’ never appeared likely to go with a swing as the Blues failed to build on their recent momentum.

The Wales connection is strong at Eastlands. The manager’s office, the boot room, the scouting and the current centre forward all wear the daffodil with pride and the team could have done with a bit more of the dragon’s fire in this tired fourth performance in eleven hectic days.

Upton Park has been a happy hunting for the Blues in recent times – they won here last season and managed a goalless draw in the FA Cup before delivering a knock-out blow in the replay – but they seldom looked like to win this disjointed contest that veered from enjoyable to soporific.

There was precious little space in a crowded midfield as the Blues stuck to the formation and personnel that inflicted a gaping wound into Liverpool’s title hopes a week earlier and West Ham sought engine room parity.

Intent

The crowd didn’t get into the game - perhaps the home fans were merely intent on giving Craig Bellamy a predictably hostile reception on his return to the club he left only a few, highly successful, weeks ago.

He would hardly have expected rose petals strewn at his feet or litter bearers chauffeuring him from team bus to dressing room and he wasn’t disappointed as Hammers fans vented their collective spleen in his direction only relenting when he was substituted in the second half.

There was little to admire from either side for the first forty-five minutes though West Ham harried and ran manfully led by Valon Behrami and Radoslav Kovac.

It was, though, City who had the first real chance when Robinho’s flick from a scuffed Vincent Kompany shot forced Green into a one handed save down by his post and led to prolonged protests that the again out of sorts Brazilian was off side.

City were soon forced into a tactical change as right back Micah Richards limped off to be replaced by striker Felipe Caicedo. Pablo Zabaleta switched from central midfield to right back. Stevie Ireland tucked into the middle and Bellamy moved to the right side with Caicedo employed down the middle.

The replacement was quickly involved in the 21st minute when Bellamy’s cross caused consternation in the home rearguard. Caicedo’s attempted stab towards goal was intercepted by Robinho who somehow side footed wide from close range. It was another indication that things are not going well for him in front of goal, his last successful strike for the Blues coming eight games ago against Blackburn on December 28.

West Ham were not looking much more threatening than their too often slow motion visitors but Collison saw his low effort well saved by Shay Given and Behrami’s blockbuster was blocked by Nigel de Jong.

The second half was better than the first with attacks less fitful and ill conceived and City on top until the Hammers took the lead in 70th minute through the alert young Collison who pounced to lob the ball home after Given had parried Savio’s fierce shot.

Caicedo twice ought to have levelled in the following ten minutes but on each occasion he failed to force Green into a save by missing the target and then Elano saw his sumptuous, goal bound last minute free kick deflected wide of the post by the head of Lucas Neill.

They probably deserved a share of the spoils on chances made but their finishing has to be more clinical for the away sickness to be cured.